General Electric is in final discussions to cement a partnership with India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to co-manufacture jet engines in the country, CNBC has learned. Earlier this week, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited India and discussed the jet engine deal with Indian officials, sources told CNBC. The nature of the agreement — whether it will be labeled a partnership, joint venture or co-assembly — still remains to be seen. The potential GE deal comes as India's economy has grown exponentially, drawing more interest from corporate giants like Apple , Google and Amazon . "We certainly see a lot of activity brewing in India," GE CEO Larry Culp told CNBC in late April, weeks after Air India placed a massive order for more than 800 GE LEAP engines.

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Persons: Cope, Narendra Modi, Lloyd Austin, Richard Rossow, India —, Daniel Silverberg, Tim Cook, Modi, Silverberg, Larry Culp Organizations: Indian Air Force, IAF, Tejas, The United States Air Force, USAF, General, India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, CNBC, Indian, Washington , D.C, . Defense, GE, U.S . State Department, Capitol, State Department, Pentagon, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Washington, Capstone, Apple, Google, GE Aerospace, Air India Locations: Kalaikunda, India's West Bengal, Washington ,, India, U.S, Russia, Asia, China